Guru of 78 things

Finally, a non-bootleg live recording from the White Stripes. Some bootlegs out there are good quality, but this is crystal clear and works like a best-of compilation as well. A great listen, bursting with Jack White's expected fervor and electricity.

Duvall gives it his all here, even singing the songs himself. Understated, melancholic and pastoral. An American gem that serves as a reminder that they don't make them like they used to.

I couldn't help but think of the recent Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges while watching this. Tender Mercies even predates the novel Crazy Heart was based on by a few years. Interestingly enough, Duvall appears in Crazy Heart as well. Either way, Tender Mercies is the much better film of the two.

Great, great film about reggae culture. Began as a documentary project which evolved into a loose Bicycle Thieves (De Sica) adaptation and ended up something else entirely. The soundtrack is as incredible as the film.

Capra tells another tale of wealth vs. friendship. The script is snappy and not too didactic, but there are certainly some lessons embedded (albeit, valuable ones). Stewart's role is more of a supporting one; Lionel Barrymore carries the load here, masterfully.

Wonderful courtroom drama with a few twists. A great cast: Stewart, Gazzara, George C. Scott and Remick. Directed well by Preminger and displays how the court system can fail at times. It even has a Duke Ellington cameo (he also did the brilliant score). Very memorable film.

A pretty bad attempt at wrapping a narrative around some performances by The Clash. I fast-forwarded through all of the story though and just caught the music, which was wonderful and well worth it.

Altman's buddy picture. Segal and Gould are terrific together, losing all their money, betting big and living fast and loose. Bears many of Altman's trademarks, but also lets the characters roam freely. Great film.

We all have our societal shortcomings, but acceptance helps us get along. James Stewart is perfect for the role of the kind, but delusional, outsider that displays why this acceptance is so necessary. Seems to have been paid homage by Donnie Darko.

Bill Murray's lone directorial effort is a bank robbery farce in which the city plays as large a role as the characters. At times outlandish and implausible, the performances (Murray, Geena Davis and Randy Quaid) help overcome this.

Bergman's alter-ego, von Sydow took on the difficult scripts and mastered them.

Has a very real, honest feel. A lot of non-actors and hand-held camera (smoothly executed). Powerful.

Based on Chris Marker's La Jetee (also highly recommended), this is a longer, more accessible adaptation. Willis is good in the lead role, but outshone by Pitt's maniacal twitching. The real star here though is Gilliam. He creates an apocalyptic vision near his previous efforts in Brazil. If only he could've matched its ending as well.

Essential viewing. Shifts the focus from the people involved to the bogus legislation that allows irresponsible, immoral behavior. Much more effective to correct illegitimate laws and behaviors than to lambaste people. And still, the power is shown to lie in the consumers' hands and being picky with what is bought.

Watch/download the movie for free here: http://www.theyliewedie.org/ressources/videos/videos-en.php#corporation

Another triumph from Verhoeven and Hauer. Compelling, invigorating, epic. Over 2 1/2 hours long, but it flew by. What a film.

Extremist and over the top, but still an entertaining (if you can call it that) allegory for mankind; essentially an update of Lord of the Flies with the addition of governmental imposition. Wacky, violent, stylized.

Meditative and contemplative, one of Jia Zhang-Ke's best (which is saying something). Intertwining stories similar in themes: reunion, estrangement, nostalgia, destruction. Rich, textured film that encourages patience and introspection.

About halfway through their discography with a desire for more. Diverse sound with songs for just about any mood you're in.

Elegiac, somber, introspective. Van Sant explores a speculative account of his own creation, but finds a higher truth. Haunting film.